Welding apparatus.



No. 817,992. 1 PATENTED APR. 17, 1906. C. L. ROWLAND.

WELDING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED P111812. 1898.

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No. 817,992. 7 PATENTED APR. 17, 1906. C.L. ROWLAND. WELDING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED PEB.12, 1898.

4 SHEETS-SHEET Z HIIIIIIIIIH PATENTBD APR. 17, 1906.

G. L. ROWLAND. WELDING APPARATUS.

APPLIOATION nun r1113. 12. 1898.

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C. L. ROWLAND. WELDING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.12. 1898.

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iklm/Gauiu UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIOE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 17, 1906.

Application filed February 12, 1898. Serial No. 670,131.

To all whom it may concern.-

' Be it known that I, CHARLES L. ROWLAND, a citizen of the United States, residing in the borough of Brooklyn, city of New York, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Welding Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates specially to apparatus for welding cylinder-seams. Its object is particularly to provide a vertical cylinderwelding apparatus in which the cylinder being operated u on has no vertical movement and in which t e welding and heating devices are reciprocated over or along successive lengths of the seam to be welded until the entire seam has been operated upon.

The cylinder support or table is so constructed and mounted that it may be moved in a horizontal right line to bring the seams of cylinders of varying diameters in the proper vertical plane with reference to the welding devices and may be adjusted about a center to circumferentially adjust the cylinders rela-.

tively to the welding devices.

My improved organization comprehends an arrangement wherein the frame supporting the welding devices mayat the will of the operator be raised or lowered any desired distance, and when set or brought into the desired position the welding devices may be reciprocated through the desired distance or stroke to effect the weldin of the seam, after which the frame and we ding devices are again moved and the welding devicesag'ain reciprocated to operate upon the new length of the seam thus brought into the sphere of their operation. With'such an organization the parallel frames between which the welding devices travel and against which the strain of the welding operation is exerted laterally maybe tied or locked to ether at the ends to sustain them against suc lateral strains. One or both of the welding devices, thou preferably one only, are pressed a ainst t e seam by power, preferably furnis ed :by a cylinder, (steam, hydraulic, or compressed air, &c.,) and the organization is such that the piston-rod of such a cylinder may at will be lengthened or shortened to adapt the devices to receive between them different thicknesses of metal to be welded.

The various features of novelty of my improved organization are hereinafter described and claimed.

I am aware that heretofore vertically-arranged cylinder-welding ap aratus has been proposed in which the we ding devices are stationary and the support carrying the cylindex is reciprocated vertically. In such organizations the expenditure of considerable energy is required to raise and reciprocate the sup ort and c linder, which are relatively o great weig t, the movement of the support during the greater part of the work of welding a seam is out of the convenient reach and control of the workman unless the workman rides u on the cylinder-support, which adds to the oad to be moved up and down.

There are difficulties in attempting to adjust the reciprocating blank or cylinder being op erated upon circumferentially while it is being. acted upon by the welding devices, and since the cylinder is movable and the welding devices stationary itis necessary to leave an open passage between the fparallel frames carrying the welding devices or the travel of the cylinder, and hence it is impossible totie such frames together at their endsto brace them against lateral strains of the welding devices, (unless the frames are made inordinately longsay somewhat greater in length than twice the length of the longest cylinder to be weldedwhich would be 1m racticable and expensive,) and hence the rames must be made of great strength and weight,and even when considerable provision 0 this kind is made there is danger of the frames being broken or strained by the laterally-exerted welding strains. In Letters Patent of the United States of America No. 598,960, granted to me February 15, 1898, ,I have shown and claimed a machine in some respects resembling that herein disclosed, but differing therefrom in material respects, as will hereinafter more fully a pear.

In t e accompanying drawings, Figureis 1 a vertical longitudinal sectional view of my im roved organization; Fig. 2, a view at rig t angles thereto, artly in section and partly in elevation; Fig. 3, an enlarged hori. 'zontal section on the line 3 3 of l Fig. 4, an enlar ed sectional view on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3; Fig.5, a section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3; Fig. 6, a view, partly in plan and section,-show1ng.the clyinder-support Fig. 7, a view, partly in sectlon and elevation, of the parts shown in Fig. 6; Fig. 8, an elevation, partly in section, showing another Way of 'mountingand carrying the heating-furnaces;

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and Fig. 9 a detail view showingl the hinge connection of the bars carrying t e heating-furnaces.

The apparatus may be set up as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2-that is to say, there is a base A arranged at or about the floor-level and covering a pit B. On the base are mounted two vertical stationary parallel frames 0 D, whichmay be braced or tied together at their upper ends by locks, bars, or latches C. These parallel frames or columns may be U-shaped in cross-section and may be of theshape indicated in sectional view, Figs. 3 and 6.

The frame C' is provided with vertical tracks 0 c, and the frame D is provided with vertical tracks'd d. The welding device may be of any suitable character, though rolls are shown and are preferably employed. One welding-roll carriage C is equi ped with wheels 0 c, that run u on the tracks 0 c, and carries the Welding-r01 C The other welding-roll carriage D is equipped with wheels d" d, that run u on the tracks d d of the and carries a welding frame or column As seen in Fig. 3, the periphery of one welding-roll C is preferably slightly convex, while that of the other welding-roll D is corres ondingly concave. The weldingroll D is orced against the seam to be welded and is adjustably mounted, as hereinafter described.

The carria e C is mounted u on'the upper end of t e verticalscrew-t readed rod C, while carriage D is similarly mounted u on a screw-threaded rod D The screwt eaded rod C passes through a correspondingly-threaded nut C formed with a gear- Wheel C and turning in a bearing in a crossframe E. The rod D similarly passes through an internallythreaded nut D formed with a gear D and also turning in a bearing in the cross-frame E. The two gears C and D mesh, and the crossframe E is vertically movable in guides or ways E E, attached to opposite walls of the pit. A pinion F meshes with the gear D and is formed with a hub, which also turns in bearings in the cross-frame E. A vertical rod F, angular' in cross-section, slides freely in a corresponding aperture through the hub of the pinion F and extends upwardly through the platform A, Where it is equipped with a beveled pinion F gearing W1tha corresponding beveled pinion F on a short shaft provided with a hand-wheel F. It is therefore a parent that the internally-threaded nuts 5 and D may be rotated and the screw-threaded rods C and D raised or lowered, correspondinglyraising or lowering the welding devices carried upon their upper ends. The welding devices may therefore be set at any desired osition or elevation between the parallel rames C D. When so set, they may be reciprocated by a piston-rod G, attached to the cross-frame E and to the piston of a power-cylinder G, that may be supplied with steam, compressed air, water under pressure, &c. The su ort for the cylinder whose seam is to be wel ed is shown in detail in Fi s. 6 and 7. It is com osed of a table H, sllding in straight walys formed in or upon the latform A. he table H is provided wit internally-projecting segmental flanges h on opposite sides, and the carriage or cylinder support proper, J, is formed with segmental flanges 7, corresponding to and fitting under the flan es h of the table H.

. The part J may there ore be'adjusted circularly with reference to th table H, and this may be convenientl acc lished by forming a segmental rac J on t e under side of the part J and with which engages a pinion J on a shaft J turning in bearings in lugs onthe platform H. By ap lying a key to the squared end of this shaf may be partially rotated, and to reduce tion I support the carriage u on rolls H mounted 1n bearings on the ta le H. With this organization it is ap arent that when a cylinder is placed upon 1ts end on the carriage J the cylinder-support, consisting of the parts H J, may be moved in or out with reference to the column 0 to bring the seam to be Welded properl in line of travel of the welding devices, an that the cylinder may be circumferentially adjusted to vary the relation of the seam to the welding de ices. Undercut or dovetailed grooves J may be formed in the face of the carriage J for the reception of correspondingly-sha ed clamps provided with bolts, by which the cylinder may be gripped and held in position. These devices are old in this class of apparatus and illustration of them or further description is unnecessary. I

The welding roll or device D is capable of being pressed against the seam to be welded by a power device-such, 'for instance, as the cylinder Kwhich' may be su plied with steam, com ressed air, water un er pressure, 800. The piston K is provided with a screwthreaded piston-rod K that passes through a correspondingly-threaded worm-wheel K fitting closely between jaws or abutmentblocks is k, forming part of a sliding frame L, movable horizontally in ways L in the welding-device carriage D. A worm L ,.turning in bearings in the sliding frame L, engages the worm-wheel. By applying a key to the squared end of the worm-shaft the wormwheel may be rotated to, in effect, shorten orlengthen the piston. This adjustment is desirable to adapt the welding devices to ret the carriage J or both of them far as Iknow an organization in which the traveling or reciprocating welding devices are provlded with a ower device to force one against the seam to be welded and which travels with them is new with me, and it constitutes a feature of my inven' tion.

In the organization shown in Figs. 1 and 4 i the opposed heating-furnaces M M are mounti 8, however,

ed directly upon and carried by the carria es of the welding devices and are supplied y air and gas or other suitable fuel by flexible or telescoping plipe connectionsm m. In Fig.

ave shown a different organization, in which the furnaces M M are carried at the lower ends of bars N N, connected by a this arrangement is to permit of hinged joint at N and suspended by a chain 0, running over pulleys on a truck O travel ing on an overhead way or track and having attached to it a counterweight 0 The furnaces are provided with wheels 0, that travel upon the tracks 0 c and d d of the vertical para el frames or columns C D and are fed with fuel throufgh pipes P, to the ends of which are attached exib e supply-pipes p p. A spring N is placed between the bars N and normally tends to press them apart to move the opposed furnaces away from each other, and by a lever-and-link connection N the bars may be drawn together against the pressure of the spring and so held. The pqurpose of t e separation of the furnaces while the cylinder is being placed in position and of their being drawn closely a ainst the seam to be'welded when the cylin er being operated upon has been properly set'and ad'usted. By raising and lowering the bars and furnaces they may be moved in correspondence with the welding devices, as is well understood. This organization is such. that in the event of the furnaces requirin repair they may readily be withdrawn an a duplicate set substituted, thus avoiding any prolonged sto page of the Welding apparatus, In order t at the furnaces may closely follow the movements of the welding devices, I prefer to connect the carriages o the welding devices and the furnac'es y links Q, which may be detached by the removal of either of the bolts thatcone nect them to the furnaces and welding-device carriages, respectively. In operating this form of my invention I may, and prefer to do so, carry the counterbalancing of the furnac'es to the point of overbalancing them, so as to carry part of the weight of the welding devices, their threaded supporting-rods, an carriage E. By so doing the power required to raise and lower the furnaces by the manipulation of the hand-wheel F or other device may, be greatly reduced, as may also the power required from the cylinder G, which reciprocates the welding devices.

elding apparatus constructed in accord ance with this invention com rises an organization by which movable we ding devices are caused to act throu hout the length of the seam of a cylinder heId against axial endwise movement, and one of the welding devices is acted upon by a power device, shown as afluidressure cylinder, which travels with it. This is believed to be novel and of great utility. Moreover, the heating furnaces are moved along the seam with the welding devices, and the two members of the frame in which the welding devices run are locked together at their outer ends to resist outward strains.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a cylinder -welding apparatus the combination of the stationary'parallel frames, opposed welding devices running thereon, a frame carrying the welding devices, mechanism for adjusting the frame and weldin devices relatively to the parallel frames to bring the welding devices into proper relation to a fresh or unwelded part of the seam, and mechanism for reciprocating the welding de-' vices throughout a limited length of the seam in any posi ion to which they may be so adjusted, substantially as set forth.

2. In a cylinder welding apparatus the combination of the stationary parallel frames, opposed welding devices running thereon, a frame carrying the welding devices, mechanism for adjusting the frame and welding devices relatively to the parallel frames to bring the welding devices into pro er rela tion to a fresh or unwelded part of t e seam, mechanism for reciprocating the welding devices throughout a limited length of the scam in any position to which they may be so adjusted, and a cylinder-support immovable in line with the axis of the cylinder but adjustable transversely thereto, substantially as set forth.

' 3. In a cylinder-welding apparatus the combinath n of the stationary parallel frames, opposed welding devices running thereon, a frame carrying the welding devices, mechanism for adjusting the frame and welding devices relatively to the parallel frames to bring the welding devices into proper relation to a fresh or unwelded part of the seam, mechanism for reci rocating the welding devices throughout a imited length of the seam in any position to which they may be so adjusted, and a cylinder-support immovable in line with the axis of the cylinder, but adjustable transversely thereto about a center and in a right line, substantially as set forth.

4. In a cylinder-welding apparatus the combination of the stationary parallel frames, opposed welding devices and heating -fur naces traveling between the stationary frames, a frame carrying the welding devices, mechanism for adjusting the frame, welding devices and furnaces relatively to the parallel frames to bring the welding devices into proper relation to a fresh or unwelded part of the seam, and mechanism for reciprocating the welding devices throughout a limited length of the seam,.in any position to which they may be so adjusted, substantially as set forth.

5. In a cylinder-welding apparatus the combination of the stationary parallel frames, opposed welding devices and heating-furnaces traveling between the stationary frames, a frame carrying the welding devices, -mechanism for adjusting the frame, weldin devices and furnaces relatively to the paralleI frames to bring the welding devices into proper relation to a fresh or unwelded part of the seam, and mechanism for reciprocating the welding devices and furnaces throughout a limited length of the seam in any position to which they may be adjusted, substantially as set forth.

6. In a cylinder-welding apparatus the combination of the vertical arallel frames, a cylindersupport non ad ustable in line with the axis of the cylinder and adapted to su port the cylinder to be welded in a vertica position, opposed welding devices working between the parallel frames, mechanism for reci rocating the welding devices throughout the ength of the seam to be welded, opposed furnaces suspended between the parallel frames and capable of being moved in correspondence with the welding devices, substantially as set forth.

7. In a cylinderwelding apparatus the combination of the vertical parallel frames, 0 posed welding devices working between t e parallel frames, mechanism for reciprocatin the welding devices throughout the length of the seam to be welded, o osed furnaces suspended'between the para lIel frames, coupled to the carriages of the welding devices and reciprocating therewith, substantially as set forth.

8,' In a cylinder-welding apparatus the combination of the vertical parallel frames,

0 posed welding devices working between t e parallel frames, mechanism for reciprocatin the welding devices throughout the lengt of the seam to be welded, opposed furnaces counterbalanced and suspended between the parallel frames and capable of being moved in correspondence with the welding devices, substantially as set forth.

9. In a cylinder-welding apparatus the combination of the vertical parallel frames, opposed welding devices working between the parallel frames, mechanism for reciproeating the welding devices throughout the support the cylinder to be welded in-a vertical position, opposed welding devices working between them, mechanism for reciprocating the welding devices throughout the seam to be welded, the opposed furnaces, their suspended supporting-bars, the hinge connection between said bars and means for swing mg the bars on their hinge connection, substantially as set forth.

11. In a cylinder-welding apparatus the combination of; the vertical parallel frames, 0

a cylinder-support nonadjustable in line with the axis of the cylinder and adapted to support the cylinder to be welded in a vertical position, opposed welding devices working between them, mechanism for reciprocat- 5 ing the welding devices throughout the seam to be welded, the opposed furnaces, their suspended supporting-bars, the hinge connection between said bars, means for at will automatically swinging the bars on their hinge ico connection, to separate the furnaces, substantially as set forth.

12. In a cylinder-welding apparatus the combination of the parallel frames, the opposed welding devices, means for reciprocating them between the frames and along the, seam to be welded, a power-cylinder traveling with the welding devices for forcing one I of the welding devices up to its work, and

means for lengthening or shortening the con- 1 w nection between the piston of the cylinder and the Welding device, substantially asset forth.

13. In a cylinder-welding a paratus the combination of vertical paralle frames, op- 11;

posed weldingdevices between them, theiradjustable carrying-frame and means forre ciprocating them, the counterbalanced fur= naces, and connections between the w lding devices and furnaces, substantially as set 12:

forth. 1

14, In a cylinderrweldingapparatus the combination of a support for positively holding the cylinder in its fixed position, welding 1 devices, one on each side of the seam to be x25 welded, mechanism for adjustingboth weld= ing devices at intervals along the seam to be welded and mechanism for reciprocating the welding-devices along the seam'in each position towhich they may be moved.

position to which they may be moved. 7

combination of the parallel ames, 0 posed welding devices located between the ames, inechanism for adjusting the welding devices at intervals along the seam to be we d vice against the seamtobe welded in each 16. In a cylinder-weldingapparatus. the

combination of the vertical parallel frames,

an adjustable cylinder-support adapted to support the cylinder in a vertical position, opposed welding devices located between the frames, mechanism for adjusting the welding devices intermittently along the seam to be welded and other mechanism for forcing one welding device against the seam to be welded in each position to which they may be moved.

17. In a cylinder-welding apparatus the combination of opposed reciprocable welding devices, means for supporting a cylinder with the seam to be welded between said devices, means for adjusting the reciprocable i15. In a cylinder-weldin apparatus the ed, and other mechanism for forcing one welding de-.

one. on each side 0 welding devices to different positions along the seam, hereby difierent parts of the seam are successively subjected to the action of the reciprocable intermittently-adjustable welding devices and heating-furnaces, one on each side of the seam, ada ted to be moved along' the entire length of t e seam. q 18. In a cylinder-welding apparatus the combination of a support for pos1tivel hold- 

